Anyone other 2002 lovers?

[madcorgi]

I think my next project will be a hot rod BMW 2002, if I can find a decent one. This one is just about perfect: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1976-bmw-2002-105/

Anyone else play with these?

[vash]

i love them (especially with the round tail-lights). if i could, i would do a 3.0CSI tho.

boy..i hope you have a big garage!

[Scott Douglas]

I had a '68 1600, way back in '72. Had it for 9 years and put over 100k miles on it in that time.

As I look back now, it was a great car as I took it, or rather it took me everywhere. Drove it to Rapid City to see my buddy Zeke. Got all the way back to Ohio to see my grandmother on another trip.

I'm too old to put up with an old(er) car now. I like my cruise control and A/C when I'm out on the interstates. I don't think I fully appreciated what I had in that 1600 at the time. It did everything the magazines said it would though.

[908/930]

Had a 1971 in purchased in 1983, it had rust issues. If you can find a good shell that is a great start. Still plan to find another one, have a rebuilt cylinder head from a Tii waiting. But I do not think they are worth what some are asking for them these days.

[gordner]

They are overpriced today for sure. But great little cars, if you get one with little rust. I had a 72, gave it up to a restorer when the axle tie rusted through and you started to be able to change lanes by adding or removing power.
Read a lot before you buy, they all rust in pretty much the same spots.

[speeder]

Cool cars at the time that have absolutely jumped the shark in terms of collector value vs. actual fun to own. And yes, I’ve had a couple plus other BMWs that were far more beautiful and better performing, IMO.

If they were still $5k cars in decent condition, I’d say, “why not.” As it is, I have zero interest in them. YMMV, of course.

[madcorgi]

I've hasd two--a 74 in inka that I took on my honeymoon and a 75 in green. Loved those cars.

[flipper35]

I missed my chance back in 88. There was one local for $300. 200k miles on it but otherwise in good shape.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by gordner

They are overpriced today for sure. But great little cars, if you get one with little rust. I had a 72, gave it up to a restorer when the axle tie rusted through and you started to be able to change lanes by adding or removing power.
Read a lot before you buy, they all rust in pretty much the same spots.

Overpriced, compared to what? I think people react that way - understandably - because you used to be able to buy one for $500 which was ridiculous and promoted crap repairs and lack of parts... 2002 folks on the whole are cheap ;-) IMO every decent classic car is way overpriced these days and the 2002 is still a deal all things considered, I've said on this forum for years that 2002s are the best classic car bang for the buck... Look at early 911s prices ;-)



I agree they are great cars... They are fun to drive and very torquey, respond to mods very well, carry 4 in comfort, huge trunk you could stash a body in, shoe box looks that make people smile, comfortable driving position (vs an alfa GTV), parts are plentiful for the most part (with annoying exceptions like new fuel sender)... The only vexing issue is rust, as Gordner pointed out. I think they started rusting on the ship to the US... Mine cost me a fortune over the years to de-rust and repaint, but mechanically, peanuts. At some point I bolted on a new head acquired for $75 and it's still on ;-) Another cool thing is 2002 people don't do "matching numbers" and anorak authenticity for the most part. You can add a 5 speed box, Recaros, an M3 motor, EFI your car, do whatever without stigma - and for the most part the car takes to it very well. The 2002 gets more thumbs up per mile than any car I ever owned, people see it and smile...

I will say (and duck) that for the money, the car is way better than my 911T in terms of usefulness, smiles per mile, fun, and the lower value means it's used more, and more "carefreely" (new word). Also you can kick the tail out at low speeds without risk... Buy one yesterday before everyone figures it out. Roundies are valued more... Square tails make for good turbo clones...

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by speeder

Cool cars at the time that have absolutely jumped the shark in terms of collector value vs. actual fun to own. And yes, I’ve had a couple plus other BMWs that were far more beautiful and better performing, IMO.

If they were still $5k cars in decent condition, I’d say, “why not.” As it is, I have zero interest in them. YMMV, of course.

I completely and respectfully disagree with that statement.
IMO a 356 at 80-100K has jumped the shark.
An early 911T/E/S at 70-150K has jumped the shark.
An Alfa GTV at 50K has jumped the shark (and gave you sciatica)
A 280SL at 100K jumped the shark long ago as well... etc, etc

If you discovered the 2002 today, for its performance level, cost of maintenance, ease of modding, overall fun handling, at 20-40K it is still a deal... And I'd start with a 20K one and put EFI on it from a 318 and you have a Tii-like car for $23500...

The problem is those cars used to be $500 10y ago and that makes it hard to accept the rise in value... Same way I sold my 356s for 15K and I think it's crazy they are worth 100 now, to ME they have jumped the shark but people still buy them, but not the 2002, not for the smiles per mile... The problem is everything seems to have jumped to crazy prices for us older farts - the average new car is 40K !!! My brain can't cope with inflation....

[madcorgi]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

Overpriced, compared to what? I think people react that way - understandably - because you used to be able to buy one for $500 which was ridiculous and promoted crap repairs and lack of parts... 2002 folks on the whole are cheap ;-) IMO every decent classic car is way overpriced these days and the 2002 is still a deal all things considered, I've said on this forum for years that 2002s are the best classic car bang for the buck... Look at early 911s prices ;-)



I agree they are great cars... They are fun to drive and very torquey, respond to mods very well, carry 4 in comfort, huge trunk you could stash a body in, shoe box looks that make people smile, comfortable driving position (vs an alfa GTV), parts are plentiful for the most part (with annoying exceptions like new fuel sender)... The only vexing issue is rust, as Gordner pointed out. I think they started rusting on the ship to the US... Mine cost me a fortune over the years to de-rust and repaint, but mechanically, peanuts. At some point I bolted on a new head acquired for $75 and it's still on ;-) Another cool thing is 2002 people don't do "matching numbers" and anorak authenticity for the most part. You can add a 5 speed box, Recaros, an M3 motor, EFI your car, do whatever without stigma - and for the most part the car takes to it very well. The 2002 gets more thumbs up per mile than any car I ever owned, people see it and smile...

I will say (and duck) that for the money, the car is way better than my 911T in terms of usefulness, smiles per mile, fun, and the lower value means it's used more, and more "carefreely" (new word). Also you can kick the tail out at low speeds without risk... Buy one yesterday before everyone figures it out. Roundies are valued more... Square tails make for good turbo clones...

I agree. When I bought my '85 911 a couple years ago, I penciled out the pros and cons of 2002 vs 911 and reached much the same conclusion as you did. I ended up buying the 911, though, because it popped up locally at a fair price for sale by a guy I knew. But I was already looking at 2002s and really have never stopped.

This car is for sale locally and looks nice.And the color is spectacular. It's an automatic, but I'm told those are actually better for 5-speed conversions because of a floor pan difference.

Is the inka car yours?

[RWebb]

IIRC, you can put a 320i or some Mseries motors in these puppies

I loved the one I had.

[Deschodt]

Yeah the inka above is mine... I bought it in 2007 for $5000, so the $500 cars were already long gone (in FL then). Was a rust pit missing a gas pedal (rusty floor)... I did a 5 speed box, E30 LSD, new head, 320 EFI conversion, tropical radiator, wheels, clutch, brakes, new trunk and engine lid (rust), rust repair hear and there (floor, rear fender), full paint job, interior (recaro and console delete, new carpets and headliner)... All of that over 13 y - bought it the day before my first child was born ;-) I still have it, it blew a clutch part this year and stranded me for the first time ever... it puts out 105 hp at the wheels (with drivetrain losses) which in this car feels really good.

5 speed made a world of difference on the freeway... I love it to bits and drive it 10x more than my 911T because its worth 1/3 of it, has a huge trunk, the kids are more comfortable, and it feels fast which is all that matters... I'd lie if I said I did not enjoy how people smile at it too... since you are looking, I must confess I probably have $35K into it by now if I added bills, but over 13 years that's not a fair valuation thing... I did not have to do what I did, I chose to instead of hookers and blow ;-)

[Deschodt]

For about 2 yrs I was lucky enough to own both of these... Guess which on is still in my garage, and which one gave me sciatica for the first time in my life !

[URY914]

In 1979 I wanted a 2002 or a 914. Made a pros and cons list for each and discussed with my dad. The 914 won out.

You could buy a Datsun 510 for half the price and have more fun but you'd have to find one.

[madcorgi]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

Yeah the inka above is mine... I bought it in 2007 for $5000, so the $500 cars were already long gone (in FL then). Was a rust pit missing a gas pedal (rusty floor)... I did a 5 speed box, E30 LSD, new head, 320 EFI conversion, tropical radiator, wheels, clutch, brakes, new trunk and engine lid (rust), rust repair hear and there (floor, rear fender), full paint job, interior (recaro and console delete, new carpets and headliner)... All of that over 13 y - bought it the day before my first child was born ;-) I still have it, it blew a clutch part this year and stranded me for the first time ever... it puts out 105 hp at the wheels (with drivetrain losses) which in this car feels really good.

5 speed made a world of difference on the freeway... I love it to bits and drive it 10x more than my 911T because its worth 1/3 of it, has a huge trunk, the kids are more comfortable, and it feels fast which is all that matters... I'd lie if I said I did not enjoy how people smile at it too... since you are looking, I must confess I probably have $35K into it by now if I added bills, but over 13 years that's not a fair valuation thing... I did not have to do what I did, I chose to instead of hookers and blow ;-)

So you've done pretty much exactly what I'd like to do, right down to the color. And you have in it roughly what an impact bumper 911 that needs some work would cost, but your car is damn near perfect. Pretty good return on investment in smiles per mile.

[RWebb]

[nota]

had a 65 1800 then an 1800ti then a 1602 69 then an 2002 70
400 for the 65 in the late 70's ti was 800 a year later 1602 was 200 not running 2002 was 1100 in 87
wish the collectors never discovered the 4 bangers
also had a 79 635 spec euro with alpina mods 5sp 16'' and bars

had to swap to volvos for cheap cars as the 320 never dropped to cheap
rust is the early bmw killer none were zinked

[wdfifteen]

I liked the 2002 a lot, but when the Datsun 510 won the trans-Am we woke up to a whole new ballgame. What do 510s go for these days?

[Rick Lee]

The 2002 is the only car that makes me lose total control of financial common sense and look for ways to get another one.

This one cost me $800 when I was flipping burgers at Wendy's in high school.